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Duke  University  Libraries 
Authorization  f 
Conf  Pam  q#31 

DTUBTHOb 


1st.  The  Quartermaster  General  is  authorized  to  impress  army  supplies,  labor  and  transportation 
(except  thai  belonging  to  rail  road  companies  and  government  contractors),  when  he  shall  think  it  neces- 
sary to  the  public  Ben  ice. 

2d.  This  power  may  lie  conferred  by  the  Quartermaster  General  upon  purchasing  officers  and  agents 
of  his  department  ;  which  officers  may  in  turn  confer  similar  powers  upon  such  subordinates  as  the  Quar- 
termaster General  shall  approve. 

3d.  All  army  supplies,  labor  ami  transportation  impressed,  will  he  paid  for  at  reasonable  prices, 
not  exceeding  in  any  ease,  rates  ordered  (rum  time  to  time  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  communicated  to 
the  Quartermaster  Genera]  :  an. I  officers  ami  agents  are  specially  instructed  to  give  to  the  owners  ;!: 
receipts,  stating  distinctly  the  description,  quality,  quantity  ami  juice  of  the  army  supplies,  or  the  kind, 
rate  of  hire  ami  time  employed  of  the  labor  ami  transportation  impressed  :  ami  designating  the  officer  by 
whom  paymen!  tin'  the  same  will  he  made,  who,  in  case  he  has  no  funds  on  hand,  shall  give  a  certificate, 
which  will  enable  the  parry  to  obtain  payment  from  thr  ncaresl  disbursing  officer  of  the  department  of 
the  Quartermaster  General. 

Ith.  It  shall  he  the  duty  <it'  the  officer  or  agent  impressing  as  aforesaid,  in  leave  to  each  person, 
whose  property  is  impressed,  a  sufficiency  of  supplies  for  the  use  of  his  family  ami  plantation,  ami  in 
impressing,  to  take,  in  preference,  army  supplies  owned  by  speculators. 

5th.  The  officer  or  agent  impressing  shall  in  all  cases  cxhibil  his  written  authority  to  impress,  to  the 
party  or  parties  interested,  or  to  his  or  their  agent  ;  ami  no  impressment  shall  he  made  (unless  authorized 
by  the  Secretary  of  War,  or  under  necessity,  ordered  by  generals  commanding  armies  in  the  field),  except 
by  officers  ami  agents  authorized  as  above,  ami  by  them  only  in  conformity  to  orders;  and  any  one  acting 
without  or  beyond  authority  in  the  above,  will  he  held  strictly  responsible. 

6th.  The  Quartermaster  General  slmll  aee  that  a  minute  ami  accurate  return  of  all  such  impressments 
as  come  within  the  range  of  his  d<  partment,  be  made  to  his  office  monthly,  and  a  record  thereof  be  kept. 

(Signed)  JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 
Dec.  26th,  1862. 

Official. 

Q.  M.  General1*  Office, 

Richmond,  Pec.  20//,,  18M. 


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http://www.archive.org/details/authorizationfroOOconf 


PH  8.5 


